Refer.io Blog

Volunteering is the secret weapon you can use to bulk up your resume and find a new job. The Corporation for National and Community Service found that those who do volunteer work have a 27% higher chance of finding a job than those who do not. Do the numbers still not convince you to get out and volunteer? Here are 5 more reasons why you should donate your energy and time. It will expand your network Just like any other social event, volunteering will open up connections and doors that you can knock on in the future. But instead of just socializing, you are surrounded by people who are dedicating time to a non-profit or the less fortunate. These kinds of people are way more likely to be friendly and open up connections with you, especially if your show interest in the organization. You will feel better about yourself Is it selfish if the only reason you are volunteering is to feel better about yourself? Not really! You are helping others and yourself-- it’s a win for ever...

Most of your time spent after submitting an application is used playing the waiting game. Each employer’s hiring process is different and some take longer than others to review applications, and then there are those who never respond to your application at all. It's difficult as a job seeker to not hear anything back. You're left wondering about the status of your application and whether or not the job has been filled yet. So what do you do? Of course, if you want an answer about your application status, you’ve got to reach out to the company’s Human Resources Director. You may be hesitant to do this. You may feel anxious about coming off as annoying or desperate to the prospective employer. That's to be expected. While some ways are better than others to reach out to an employer, here are the 3 best ways to follow up on your application without stepping on anyone's toes. 1. Be persistent The key to getting the answers you need about your application i...

Did you know that you can still be in control of an interview, even if you are the interviewee? You can (and should be) an active participant in an interview. Think of an interview as a sales negotiation. Not only are you trying to sell your skills to the employer, but the employer is also trying to buy your skills to improve their company. You can subtly manipulate the conversation and increase your chances of getting hired by using some of the following tips. Make a great first impression While in the waiting room, turn off your phone and put it away. First impressions are everything, and the last thing you want is your interviewer to come out to meet you only to see you hunched over playing Candy Crush. Sit up straight, smile at the receptionist, and be ready to meet your interviewer at any moment. Establish trust before the real interview even begins There are a few golden seconds you have before the interview actally starts and settling into your chair. These seconds can al...

Interviews can be intimidating. Especially if you get asked questions that are really difficult to answer. Some questions can be very direct, and most of the time employers are looking for a specific answer. If you don’t answer the question in the way they want you to, chances are the employer will pass you up. Which begs the question - what is the right thing to say? How do you answer the most difficult questions in an interview without sitting there for five minutes trying to come up with a good answer? Here are a few tips for some of the hardest questions an employer will ask in an interview. What are your weaknesses? Employers really like to ask this question. They use it to gauge your personality and get insight into what you think of yourself and how you might fit in with their workplace culture. The best rule of thumb is to know the answer to the question before you arrive at the interview. Consider what your strengths and weaknesses are well before you even leave for th...

Here’s something you definitely already know: to expand your network, you have to get out and talk to people. But how exactly do you go about that, especially if you are an introvert? It’s already stressful to step out of your comfort zone and make new friends, but it can be even more frightening when you are trying to connect with the CEO of a company you want to work at. Here are a few tips you can use to help you prepare for the big conversations, or connect with people you already know on a more meaningful level. Make the first move This is the scariest part. The approach into the conversation will take guts, but it is up to you to make the first move. The person you want to speak with cannot read your mind. They won’t know you want to speak with them unless you say so. If you spend too much time doubting yourself or weighing the pros and cons of your approach, the opportunity will be missed. Once you see an opportunity, jump on it within 5 seconds, you will thank me later. ...

The only way to get a job is to apply for it. When you find a job that looks promising, you send in your resume and apply for the position. A few hours, days, even weeks go by and you haven’t heard anything. There are a number of reasons why an employer may not respond to you personally after submitting your application. What it comes down to is the more time that passes between your application and not hearing back from the employer, it often means the employer is no longer considering you for the position. If you haven’t heard back from an employer, here are 4 essential things you must do in order to get the closure you need. 1. Contact the employer in a respectful manner Employers are not required by law to respond to applicants. Of course, it would be nice of them to respond, even to just let you know you aren’t being considered for the job so you can settle nerves at the very least. If a week has passed since you applied for the position, it never hurts to reac...

Congrats on the interview! First of all, pat yourself on the back for making it this far. Your resume and application have already made it through an Applicant Tracking System (ATS), the hands of several HR members, a phone interview, and now to the hands of your future employer. This final step in the hiring process can make or break your chance of securing the position, so here are a few ways you can make sure it ends in your favor.    Follow Instructions Carefully read and re-read the instructions the hiring manager gives you for your interview. If it is up to you, schedule the interview on a day when you know will be able to attend. Do your best to clear your schedule the hours before and after the interview, you don’t want to be in a time crunch either way. Be sure you have the correct address, and maybe even practice the route and parking options near the interview location. Bring any materials they ask for, including several extra copies of your resume. First im...